Given recent events in Japan, this got me wondering. Is it possible to determine radiation levels reliably not having Geiger counters near the possible radiation contaminated zone? According to wikipedia the Chernobyl disaster was first (other than Soviet Union naturally) detected by Swedish via radioactive particles found on clothes of nuclear plant workers. Surely more efficient ways should have been developed by now.
Answer
Short answer: no.
Longer answer: No, excepting neutrinos none of the products of radioactive decay has the penetrating power to pass through the atmosphere, and neutrino detection is not something we can do from satellites.
To elaborate, the immediate products of radioactive decay are (some set of, depending on the decay in question) fission fragments, electrons, positrons, alphas, neutrons, photons (gamma rays) and neutrinos. Plus the remnant nucleus. The only secondary product which might be interesting is Cerenkov light.
The electrons and positrons will travel a number of cm in air (at ground level). The gamma might go a few meters. The heavy stuff has no penetrating power at all.
Even if lofted to the top of the troposphere, there is just too much air in the way.
Cerenkov light will, of course, go through a lot of atmosphere, but you'd be looking for a pale blue glow against the general light background. For dispersed radionucleides (i.e. contamination), the intensity will be awfully low.
N.B. I too have seen various TV show and movie where some character from some agency says "We can track the radiation with satellites!". I believe this to be misinformed babbling of desperate script writers.
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